CA - Pacific Palisades - 30,000 People Ordered to Evacuate From L.A. Wildfires

[iamshadow21]

Lots of people have lost their homes.

Of course, we only know the famous people by name.

Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, Eugene Levy, Mark Hamill. Billy Crystal lost the home he and his wife had shared for over forty years. The historic home once owned by Will Rogers was lost.

I've seen temples and churches that have been gutted; I know one temple saved their Torah scrolls, thank goodness.

 

[iamshadow21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1877215015062667396

 

[iamshadow21]

Crews battle Sunset fire in Hollywood Hills, knock down Studio City house fire

Firefighters were dispatched to two new blazes that erupted Wednesday night — a fast-growing brush fire that prompted chaotic evacuations near the Hollywood Hills and a structure fire in Studio City.

www.latimes.com

 

[Lilibet]

My cousin lives in Pacific Palisades. She’s out of the country and as of yesterday didn’t know the fate of her home. I keep trying to find info about her neighborhood, but so far nothing. She lost her partner of over 30 years the summer of 2023 and I don’t want her to go thru any more heartbreak. :-(

 

[iamshadow21]

Nildorf Juvenile is now under an evacuation warning, but no movement of kids yet.

https://www.latimes.com/california/live/pacific-palisades-fire-updates-los-angeles#p=evacuation-warning-for-juvenile-hall-in-path-of-hurst-fire

 

[iamshadow21]

More evacuated as worst fire in LA history spreads to Hollywood Hills

Of the five fires burning across Los Angeles only one has been brought under control, as early estimates put initial damage at about $90 billion.

www.afr.com

“They got so strong we started laughing because we couldn’t play tennis,” Ms Druckman told The Australian Financial Review. But the laughter faded when she was reminded of the conditions that have ignited bushfires in Sydney, where she grew up.

“It has never been like this. I said the gum trees around us were turning into widow makers and that we should get out of here,” she said.

People have talked about the foliage contributing to the fires, but I hadn't seen anyone talk about all the non-native eucalyptus trees all over California that are Australian natives. And when I do see it in an article... it's an Australian living in LA.

Everyone in Australia recognises the inherent danger in the combination of heat-dry-high wind-eucalyptus (gum trees). Even without fire, high winds can cause eucalyptus trees to shed branches or topple over without warning.

Widow makers. I couldn't have put it better myself.

MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

The Cal Fire page shows that they have one of the 'smaller' fires (Lidia) 40% contained. The Hurst fire, 10% contained. No containment of the other fires yet.

Incidents | CAL FIRE

www.fire.ca.gov

 

[iamshadow21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1877248829952578045

 

[iamshadow21]

https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-09-25-hnk#cm5p0l8vs00003b6nnvd035f8

Altadena, California, has a current air quality index of 426, according to the latest from IQair.

This index is well into “hazardous” levels, or a level 6 of 6 on the air quality index scale. This exceeds the worst air quality seen in New Delhi.

 

[iamshadow21]

‘Essential’: nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters deployed as LA battles wildfires

The firefighters earn $5.80-$10.24 per day plus $1 an hour when responding to active emergencies, according to CDCR

www.theguardian.com

A reminder that incarcerated firefighters do dirty, difficult and incredibly dangerous work for basically the price of a fancy coffee a day, and once released tend to find it unacceptably difficult to get actual firefighting jobs despite their training and frontline experience. They deserve better.

MOO

 

[Herat]

More evacuated as worst fire in LA history spreads to Hollywood Hills

Of the five fires burning across Los Angeles only one has been brought under control, as early estimates put initial damage at about $90 billion.

www.afr.com

“They got so strong we started laughing because we couldn’t play tennis,” Ms Druckman told The Australian Financial Review. But the laughter faded when she was reminded of the conditions that have ignited bushfires in Sydney, where she grew up.

“It has never been like this. I said the gum trees around us were turning into widow makers and that we should get out of here,” she said.

People have talked about the foliage contributing to the fires, but I hadn't seen anyone talk about all the non-native eucalyptus trees all over California that are Australian natives. And when I do see it in an article... it's an Australian living in LA.

Everyone in Australia recognises the inherent danger in the combination of heat-dry-high wind-eucalyptus (gum trees). Even without fire, high winds can cause eucalyptus trees to shed branches or topple over without warning.

Widow makers. I couldn't have put it better myself.

MOO

There has been a concerted effort in some areas to get rid of the eucalyptus trees in areas of California, but mostly in the northern California area. They are a real fire hazard because of the resinous oils and the thick leaves that drop to form matts rather than quickly decomposing. Plus, they do break and fall enough that they have caused fatalities.

Here are some examples of eucalyptus tree removal projects in California:

• Highway 101 near Prunedale: Caltrans is removing about 230 eucalyptus trees from a large grove along Highway 101. The project is part of an annual assessment to identify hazardous trees.
  
• North Monterey County: The Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a $1 million program to remove eucalyptus trees in areas deemed a fire hazard. Homeowners pay half of the removal cost, which is estimated at $5,000 per tree.
  
• Sonoma State University: Sonoma State University removed 50-year-old rees

 

[scandinavian girl]

The daughter reached San Diego, she was house sitting so she evacuated with 2 dogs and a cat that wasn´t hers and they are all fine.

 

[iamshadow21]

The daughter reached San Diego, she was house sitting so she evacuated with 2 dogs and a cat that wasn´t hers and they are all fine.

Wonderful to hear. <3

 

[iamshadow21]

Not all heroes wear capes.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/01/08/california-wildfires-animal-hospital-evacuations/

First this veterinarian took in her brother's pets during the Palisades fire. Then she took in 40 more

Annie Harvilicz runs two veterinary hospitals and is taking in animals that have been displaced by the fires raging around Los Angeles.

www.latimes.com

https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-09-25-hnk#cm5p1l6zx00002a6c6preqvoj

 

[Trinitee]

When do outside agencies and other fire departments from around the country start moving in to assist?

 

[iamshadow21]

When do outside agencies and other fire departments from around the country start moving in to assist?

It's already happening.

Multiple states are sending teams as fast as they can get there.

Here's an article about Washington's response:

Washington crews answer urgent call, joining thousands to fight devastating LA wildfires

Some Washington wildland fire crews are on the road to Southern California.

cbsaustin.com

And Oregon:

C.O. fire crews among 21 Oregon strike teams heading to S. California to help battle deadly, devastating wildfires

Thirteen hours away from Los Angeles, Central Oregon fire crews are among 18 Oregon strike teams heading south to join the fight.

ktvz.com

And here's an LA Times article about the out of state response:

L.A. firefighters are spread thin fighting major fires, but help is on the way

The California National Guard has sent 200 personnel to help fight four major fires in L.A. County, and federal and out-of-state agencies are also pledging help.

www.latimes.com

 

[marloweclover]

Idaho is sending 104 and 25 trucks today (1/9). Idaho sends 104 firefighters to aid Southern California wildfire efforts

 

[iamshadow21]

https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-09-25-hnk#cm5p209zh00003b6pgrqlpxwj

Quick action by residents at Runyon Canyon may have saved their street. When a palm tree caught fire, they found a ladder and climbed to a roof and used a garden hose to extinguish the flames. It took them almost forty minutes.

 

[SouthAussie]

Canada is also standing by, waiting to help.

Although Canada already has two firefighting planes working the fires, as part of an annual contract.


B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said the province is standing by to assist California with the fires but has yet to receive a request.
Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel posted a message of support on X to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying the province is ready to send additional firefighters to the state if they are needed.


A spokesperson for Quebec's Transport Department said the two Quebec government planes have been actively involved in fighting the fires since Tuesday.
The Canadian-made CL-415 firefighting planes are sent to California each fall as part of an annual contract that has existed since 1994, the department says on its website. It says the contract normally begins in September and lasts for between 90 and 180 days.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/quebec-british-columbia-wildfires-los-angeles-1.7426060

 

[iamshadow21]

Canada is also standing by, waiting to help.

Although Canada already has two firefighting planes working the fires, as part of an annual contract.


B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said the province is standing by to assist California with the fires but has yet to receive a request.
Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel posted a message of support on X to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying the province is ready to send additional firefighters to the state if they are needed.


A spokesperson for Quebec's Transport Department said the two Quebec government planes have been actively involved in fighting the fires since Tuesday.
The Canadian-made CL-415 firefighting planes are sent to California each fall as part of an annual contract that has existed since 1994, the department says on its website. It says the contract normally begins in September and lasts for between 90 and 180 days.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/quebec-british-columbia-wildfires-los-angeles-1.7426060

I wonder if the planes have names.

I don't think it would make much sense to those outside fire zones, but if I said, Elvis, The Incredible Hulk, and Georgia Peach to people from south eastern Australia of about my age, they'd likely know exactly what I was talking about. Elvis, who was the first, has a fan club.

MOO